Caribou - also known as Reindeer - were once a facet of the American landscape. Unregulated hunting and clear cutting of old growth forest led to their extinction in the region. At present they are listed as an Threatened species, with the bulk of the population being relegated to undisturbed parts of northern Canada.

Caribou are an indicator species in that their decline and absence can relay information about the state of the local ecosystem. With the species removal from the United States, it is possible that their historical habitats will lose their protected status.

A federal action plan needs to be enacted in order to restore these mammals to the lower 48. Portions of the White Mountain National, where virgin forests still exist, would prove an ideal starting point for this venture. These places are rich in Cladonia lichen, which is a primary staple of the Caribou's diet.

Successfully reintroducing this species may pave the way for the further restoration of species such as the Gray Wolf, Canadian Lynx, and Mountain Lion.